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Historic
St. Augustine – Florida’s oldest city
The sunshine
state’s oldest city is filled with Old World charm
When
Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon discovered Florida in 1513, landing near
what is now the city of St. Augustine, there is no question he was more
than a little impressed with the place. He named his landfall La
Florida (place of flowers) the name eventually adopted by the state.
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The World-famous 17th
hole of
The Players Sawgrass Stadium Course at
Ponte Verde Beach, Florida (Photo: SAPV&B VCB)
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In
addition to a bounty of exquisite blooming plants, the verdant
landscape gave way to miles of white sand beaches but what was not
immediately evident was how arduous it would be to settle this place
whose beauty belied hordes of insects, mangles of twisted greenery,
poisonous snakes and last but not least the threat of hostile natives.
Yet in
spite of these and other hardships, and various failed attempts to
colonize the Florida peninsula, the settlement at St. Augustine was
officially founded in 1565 and thrived under the leadership of Spaniard
Pedro Menendez.
Over the years the fledgling colony
destined to become one of the most charming cities in America was
threatened by the French and twice sacked and taken over by the
British. It was later restored to Spain and in 1821 it was purchased by
the United States.
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Stroll along Avilles
Street, the oldest street in the city.
Enjoy shopping, art and dining (Photo:
SAPV&B VCB)
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The sale
officially ended Spanish interests in St. Augustine but today the
legacy left behind, both historically and architecturally,
significantly shapes the character of the country’s oldest
continuously occupied city.
I’ve visited pretty much every city in the United States
purported to be a “must see” destination yet in my opinion
the unique distinction of St. Augustine cannot be surpassed. This
enchanting town on Florida’s upper northeast coast has at least
60 historic sites and attractions and the best way to visit them is
aboard the city‘s open-air, sightseeing trolleys or trains which
offer narrated tours and off/on privileges at key points of interest.
Sometimes referred to as the Ancient City, its most popular attraction
is St. George Street in what is known as Old Town. Now a
pedestrian-only avenue, it is home to numerous original buildings
established by early Spanish colonists. Here, visitors can tour the
country’s oldest wooden school house together with a Spanish
Quarter that replicates early colonial life with costumed interpreters.
The avenue is also is also home to Florida’s oldest Spanish
colonial house plus the Museum of Florida’s History and the
Florida Military Museum. On this street that is constantly bustling
with tourists, there is also an interesting mix of contemporary shops,
boutiques and restaurants.
At the waterfront, the most visible
attraction is the Castillo San Marcos, an impregnable coquina stone
fortress built by the Spanish in 1695 to protect the colony from
attack. Further along the waterfront is the Fountain of Youth National
Archaeological Park, a tribute to the spot where Ponce de Leon is said
to have landed.
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The Castillo de San
Marcos, build in 1672-1695 to protect
and defend Spain’s claims in the New World,
is the oldest masonry fortification in the United States
(Photo:
SAPV&B VCB)
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History claims the explorer believed a fresh water spring on the
property was the mythical fountain of youth and although he drank from
it, a long and healthy life was not his destiny. A few years later a
native wounded him with a poison-tipped arrow which led to his death.
Almost every tourist who visits the park drinks from the legendary
fountain hoping it might actually contain restorative waters.
While there are numerous other
historical attractions such as the black and white striped
165-foot-tall lighthouse that has been guiding mariners since 1874,
plus guided tours of an ancient jail constructed in 1891 by the same
company that built Alcatraz, there are also illustrious sites that
sprang up later during the “gilded age.” Two must-see
venues are
Flagler College, built as a hotel in 1887 by millionaire industrialist
Henry Flagler. Today this Spanish Renaissance masterpiece is a private
college, however, there are daily guided tours of the place and one of
the key features is the world’s largest collection of Tiffany
stained
glass windows. The second must-see venue is the Lightner Museum, also
built by Flagler as a hotel.
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The St. Augustine
Lighthouse & Museum
is a working lighthouse and museum,
preserving and interpreting Northeast
Florida’s rich history (Photo:
SAPV&B VCB)
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Today it
houses artefacts from the 1800s,
together with a Tiffany glass collection, antique mechanical musical
instruments - and perhaps most fascinating - an Egyptian mummy of a
young child.
Overall, the city is a wonderful enclave of historical sites and
museums yet it also has a selection of entertainment options that make
it a good destination for families. Kids are attracted to places like
the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, a day sail on the replica
of a pirate ship, a visit to nearby Marineland or the St. Augustine
Alligator Farm where there are at least 1,000 hungry gators. Of course,
there’s always the beach which is unspoiled and natural.
Neither are visitors short changed
when it comes to dining. There are more than 300 restaurants
specializing in everything from Asian to American and everything in
between. I sampled only a few so my recommendations are limited. For a
fine dinner the Columbia Restaurant in the heart of Old Town did not
disappoint with an elegant décor, excellent Spanish cuisine and
arguably the best sangria in town. More casual and still in the Old
Town is the Bubble Room. Patrons here are often encouraged to order a
single entre for two since portions are so large they are best shared.
This is a fun place for people with big appetites and a penchant for
12” high cakes.
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Tours of Flagler
College, the former Ponce de Leon Hotel built by Henry Flagler in 1888,
are conducted daily
(Photo: Glen Hastings)
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Best casual
lunch can be had on St. George Street at
the Bunnery where bread and rolls are fresh baked and soup and
sandwiches are both generous and tasty.
Since the focal point of the city is Old Town, I stayed at the St.
George Inn just steps from the action. This is an unusual boutique
hotel primarily because its 25 rooms are distributed among four
different heritage buildings. I lucked out and was billeted in a suite
with balconies on both back and front - one overlooking the Castillo
San Marcos fort and the waterfront with the other overlooking St.
George Street. The hotel’s location cannot be beaten and
accommodations are well above par.
| Travel
Planner |
Information:
See Getaway4Florida.com
or call 1-800-418-7529.
Getting There: St. Augustine is 45 min. south of Jacksonville
International Airport and 98 miles northeast of Orlando International
Airport. Driving south from Canada, St. Augustine is just off I-95.
Accommodations:
St. George Inn. See www.stgeorge-inn.com or call 1-888-827-5740. |
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